A Lankan Millennial Girl's - Guide To Moving Out

It’s not the easiest thing to do and when I did it, I had to figure everything out through trial and error. It was a huge learning curve, but, if you’re attempting this yourself, here are a few tips to help you get a move on!

- Yasodhara Kariyawasam

THE QUEST FOR A HOUSE

Rental Advertisements: When looking for a house, a mobile app (like Ikman) or the local newspaper are quite helpful. Brokers or landlords place advertisements usually on Fridays so that people can visit during the weekend. Facebook also has expat and property groups which post advertisements. I relied primarily on Ikman because I could filter the options, and the pictures helped me narrow down my choices.

The list. Make a list of the places you want to visit along with the contact details, so you won’t fumble in the dark while visiting. Viewing houses is exhausting, so choose only one or two areas to visit per day to avoid making hasty decisions and save up on transportation.

Be cautious with the brokers. They come in handy because they may know places that are in the same area and ones that are yet to be advertised or not advertised at all. I found a trustworthy broker who also helped with the negotiation process (any help to reduce that deposit, right? Right!). But, I got lucky. Not all brokers are the same. If you do decide to go via a broker, always be sure to go with a friend, partner or parent for safety purposes. It is also best to decide on their share beforehand and a date you can realistically pay up.

Secure it. Found a place you love but terrified it might disappear? Take some money with you that will serve as an advance to secure the house for you. It doesn’t have to be a lot — it can even be Rs. 5,000. You can deduct this from your deposit. Cover your bases by taking a typed out letter for both parties to sign. It serves as proof to avoid anyone denying anything.

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